On the Field: Skimpiness

DCI Semi-Finals

Friday, August 12, 2011

Lucas Oil Stadium

Bro and SCV

This morning,  Bro and I walked to DCI Headquarters for their Open House.  It's pretty much just an office with a cool video monitor on the outside wall, advertising for DCI.  My favorite part of the office, though, was seeing the pictures posted on the walls.

Afterward, we went to lunch at Tastings, A Wine Experience.  I decided to stick within the theme of the week and tasted the 2008 Bodegas Vallobera from La Mancha, Spain, called "Spanish Demon" Tempranillo, followed by the 2007 Rabbit Ranch Pinot Noir from Central Otago, New Zealand.  The Pinot Noir wasn't really within the theme, unless you count the film noir show that Spirit is doing this year.  We enjoyed the Sesame-Crusted Ahi Tuna and Filet Mignon Pizza, with a sampler plate of Manchego cheese and Prosciutto for our European dessert.  Bro tasted the 2008 Frog's Leap Merlot from Rutherford, CA and the 2009 Standing Stone Riesling from Finger Lakes, NY.

We had a little bit of time before the show started, so we rested in our hotel room for awhile before heading back to Lucas Oil Stadium.  First, though, I walked into a storage closet instead of opening the door to the stairway.  I wondered why it was dark, then saw paint cans on the floor, and finally figured out that I had made a wrong turn.  Bro said nothing, but laughed at me.  I could not stop giggling for several minutes.  I know that I was tired, but at least I know our room number, unlike someone else who almost tried to open some other person's door.  

Our seats were on the ground level, 10th row from the bottom, on the right 25-yard line, and we were in the Santa Clara Vanguard block of seats.  

The Star-Spangled Banner was sung a cappella by someone from the Colts.  It was very pure and pretty.  

Bro saw the strap of my illegal backpack underneath my seat and for a moment thought that my seat had a seat belt.  

So here we go, the top 25 from Prelims.  Top 12 from tonight advance to Finals, and are marked with a *.

JERSEY SURF -- 71.35

Oh, there are roses on those flags!  We thought that it was just some kind of shading, but now that we're up close, we can actually see the roses.  Yesterday, it didn't look like the female lead CG wanted the male lead to kiss her during "Kiss From A Rose", but today it was OK.  I didn't notice the snare players clapping to this song yesterday, but Bro said he thought that they were off yesterday.  It also could be a problem of the difference of the acoustics versus the speed of light, but I didn't take Physics, so maybe I'm saying it wrong.  Great rifle work, Surf!  

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD CADETS -- 72.85

Balancing on Legs

I wouldn't allow Bro to get a hot dog, even though he's not happy with the narration.  We're in the SCV section, for goodness' sake!  I realized that the age-outs of the Vanguard Cadets get to wear their special red feathers 4 days in a row, because they had Open Class Finals, Prelims, Semis, and the parade on Saturday.  They used to only get to wear them on Open Class Finals night.  That's cool.  I like the drum beat during the last piece, because it reminds me of the Apache Marching Band.  So does the actual SCVC cadence.  :)

CASCADES -- 72.2

The male color guard uniforms are kind of skimpy with their short shorts, like they were old school NBA players.  I didn't know that when Pandora was dancing with the drummer, he was actually a bad guy, leading her back into the box.  I don't know what happened to their drums, but the basses were covered and Bro noticed that the tenors didn't match the snares.  Oh, I just looked it up and realized that I had forgotten about the crash.  Their trailer was in a bad accident on tour, and the crash affected a lot of their percussion equipment.  Poor Cascades.  

OREGON CRUSADERS -- 75.25

Bro wondered if this was his hot dog corps.  I thought he wasn't hungry!  I reminded him that he liked the music for the show, and I'm glad he stayed around.  I like "Blue Shades" when it's done well like this.  Great sound, O Cru!

BLUE DEVILS B -- 76.45

When I'm awake, I notice more stuff.  The CG pants are velvet/velour, and are black on one leg, blue on the other.  Very cool midnight blue drums -- I want those!  I didn't hear Sting singing yesterday.  10 contras, and I can hardly hear their ensemble solo.  I saw a stack of rifles and thought it was cool.  I have simple taste.  

TEAL SOUND -- 75.75

Oh, yeah, this one has an electric violin.  Had I known that it were possible for a violinist to be in a drum corps, I would have joined a long time ago.  He also conducted for a while.  I still can't hear the bass guitar, which is fine with me, because it seemed unnecessary.  What is that thing the other guy is playing?  Electric clarinet?  Nose flute?  Bro said it was an "electronic noisemaker".  The cymbal players did some acrobatics, jumping off of each other with their bald heads.  

MANDARINS -- 75.7

One of the cymbal players was doing The Worm while still having their cymbals on their hands.  Are the flags plain so that they don't detract from the CG uniforms?  Because they're kinda fancy.

PACIFIC CREST -- 77.75

Well done, PC!  Congratulations on a great season.  Bro said that tonight was the best that he's seen you EVER.  I'm looking forward to what you come up with next year.

YOKOHAMA SCOUTS (Exhibition)

We had a moment of silence for those who were affected by the earthquake in Japan earlier this year.  Yesterday was the first day in DCI history that a drum corps from Japan performed in competition.  Nice solos, especially during the Gershwin.  

FIRST INTERMISSION

I had dippin' dots for the first time, banana split flavor.  I did not spill until Bro ruined it all.  Then I found out later that the problem with dippin' dots is you don't always know that a dot or two has landed on your clothing, and then later leaves a little mark as evidence.  

CROSSMEN -- 81.05

Oh, the CG uniform is a modified Maltese Cross!  GREAT sound.  The "Hallelujah" was gorgeous, which made me smile.  Great solos, too.  One soloist stole the other soloist's horn so that he couldn't finish.  At another point, the people playing the duet did a Crossmen salute afterward.

COLTS -- 82.25

Newly Black Swan and Colts

I don't know what they yell when they're about to enter the field, but they always yell something.  The drum major uses a baton.  The CG guys made animal sounds at one point when they were picking up their equipment, and it was kinda scary.  I tried to explain the story of "Black Swan" to Bro, but I don't think that I successfully explained the corps' show in relation to it.

ACADEMY -- 82.65

Academy DM Salute

You go, Academy!  What an awesome season.  Congratulations on winning our award for Best New Uniform, too.  I so totally loved this show.

TROOPERS -- 83.2

I think that the half-skirt on the CG is a bit indecent.  Troopers do yoga!  

Sword Salute

GLASSMEN -- 83.4

OK, I guess they're vampires.  I must have fallen asleep yesterday, because I don't remember the CG leads going up to the drum major stand, kissing, her biting him, and him falling off the stand before becoming a vampire, too.  I also don't remember the rest of the color guard being under the big tarp.  I do remember the red blood ribbons, though, so maybe that's when I woke up.  Bro wondered why I would even think that it was about werewolves:  well, there were moon flags, and "Twilight" had both vampires and werewolves!  

SPIRIT OF ATLANTA -- 86.55*

Lips

Bro didn't realize yesterday that there were more than 2 lamp posts.  I noticed them all because I thought they were cool.  The percussion feature rocked!  Oh, those are pistols on the flags.  I get it.  I also didn't realize that the femme fatale was in love with the soloist, whom was in love with another CG gal.

BLUE STARS -- 87.00*

Their color guard wears hoodies, so perhaps Bro is right about it being the "in" color guard thing.  One of them fell backwards off of the platform on purpose.

Tenors on Platform

SCOUTS - 88.35*

I like being able to see the faces of the CG, especially during the sadness, which they portrayed well.  One dude was holding on to the white screen while he was playing.  I wonder if he was about to fall down, or if he was just tired. The Empire State building is on the final flags.

Emotional

BK -- 89.4*

Nice duet!  Bro thinks that this is his 6th favorite show this year, but he almost left because he's seen it so much.  What?!  He stayed, though.  

SECOND INTERMISSION

This was a longer one, so we got something from the very slow concession stands.  Honestly, we're on a set schedule, so shouldn't they start cooking the food before intermission?  You're going to sell a LOT of hot dogs and hamburgers and chicken.  Be prepared!

B CRU -- 90.35*

Bro and I sang along with the corps during the pre-show.  Nobody else around us did, but we didn't care.   I like the high brass ensemble during "Attack de Rue Plumet".  I didn't know that there was a plume change until Bro told me not to miss it.  The drummers change their plumes to white before the battle starts.  I like the flags with the silhouette of the rebel.

Bring Him Home

BLOO -- 91.6*

The lady sitting in front of me felt sorry for the corps, thinking that the audience was booing them.  The lady next to her informed her about the "BLOOOO" tradition.  They have some gymnasts in this corps, because I saw a lot of tumbling and handspring moves.  The dude wearing a corps uniform that dances with the color guard and tosses a rifle also plays the marimba.  I wonder if he can also play a horn.  He seems to be multi-talented.  I like the show more when I see all the people doing different stuff, like horn players tumbling and whatnot.

SCV -- 92.2*

I didn't know that the CG had hats.  I must usually be too busy watching the corps and the runners that I never noticed them putting those on.  I have a favorite demon outfit.  We were sitting in the SCV section, yet only one guy seemed to know where the Vanguard Yell goes, and he didn't yell it until the 2nd syllable: "GUARD!!!"  I just love all of the tension in this show.

PHREGIMENT -- 93.95*

Romeo Dying

There were tears in my eyes at the end of the show.  Just gorgeous.  We still haven't seen a chevron yet, but Bro and I have already picked the spot in the show for it.  

Bro:  "I predict Phregiment will 'Capulet' into 3rd position."

Have I told you that Bro is silly?

CROWN -- 95.65*

Playing on the Tower

Their CG outfits are skimpy.  I said that a lot tonight, but it's probably because it's the first time I've seen so many of them up close, and also because they are wearing skimpy outfits.  These are very different emotions than the prior corps.  They do a formation of the Rock 'n' Roll Hand sign, but we couldn't see that from our vantage point, unless you count the big screen, which I don't.  There is a lot of trust involved in this show, what with all of the falling backwards from the towers.  Tonight the broken guitar was blue, and last night, it was black.  I think that the color of the guitar symbolizes that of the corps that they're trying to beat.  Bro and I did not fall for the fake ending this time.  But then because we're not standing with everyone, we can't see what's going on.

CAVALIERS -- 96.9*

Conducting Upside-Down

The CG uniforms remind me of Rafiki.  It doesn't help that the guys on stilts are holding a long stick with a sun-looking thing on top.  Oh, the CG exchanges the drumsticks for orange ones.  I was so busy watching that part that I missed seeing the upside-down horn players.  Then I was busy watching the 2nd drum major run across the field to the main podium to be upside-down with the main drum major.  I like Academy's version of the Bach better.  Hey--the Cavies even have the same green on their final flags.  What's up with that?

BD -- 97.3*

I couldn't hear much of the soprano trio that was mic'ed.  I did hear the really, really high notes, but that's it.  Bro and I are wondering what extra thing BD is going to do in their attempt to be #1 again for Finals.  Maybe they'll lay down some carpet in the house.

CADETS -- 97.8*

Demon Throwing Down Angel

A guy sitting in back of me saw the angels and wondered aloud, "How are they doing so well when they're so small?"  Then the demons arrive and he said, "Who are these guys?"  Bro says that the guy really didn't know, because I wondered if he was just acting, to be funny.  When the demons arrived, one of them full on threw a baritone horn onto the field.  Although the actual instrumentalist picked up the horn, he did not use that one to play, probably because it was quite beat up, as you can imagine it would be.  Bro leaned over to me during the show and said, "Fear the Fork".  APPARENTLY, this is ASU's new thing.  

Dan Potter talked to a guy from RTV, a local radio station, whom agreed that drum corps is, indeed, a sport, after seeing tonight's shows.  He then suggested that DCI do something for the Super Bowl Halftime show in 2012, since it's taking place at LOS and they still didn't have an act.  Much cheering ensued.

Awards:

Volunteers of the Year (from 7th Regiment and Cadets)

DCI Hall of Fame Inductees

DCI Scholarships

Age-Out Ceremony

The A/Os from Music City wrote on an aerobed.  Pac Crest placed stuff on the field carefully.  Most of the other corps just threw their trash around.  

Bro and I returned to the hotel, and he Skyped with the family.  Another full day of drum corps is done, and then tomorrow will be bittersweet as it will be the last day of a fantastic season.

Next Up:  Finals